Friday, July 20, 2012

Armistead Maupin Sells in San Francisco

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Last night—or rather very early this morning—Your Mama received a brief (but breathless) phone call from our boozed-fueled b.f.f. Fiona Trambeau up in San Francisco who slurred and shouted in our sleepy ear about the long-time residence of quintessentially San Francisco writer Armistead Maupin coming up for sale with an asking price of $1,198,000.

Mister Maupin and his younger man-friend-husband Chris Turner—a former holistic healer who founded (and sold) the homosex-oriented hook up site Daddy Hunt—revealed
to the press some time ago they planned to decamp to the Native
American pottery and turqwahze infested haven of Santa Fe (NM), so this particular real estate turn of events isn't such a big surprise for literary-minded real estate watchers like Your Mama and Fiona, who despite her wanton ways and stevedore vocabulary, is quite well read with deep and real roots in the San Francisco literary scene. Even though Mister Maupin is currently at work on a new book, the move, Mister Turner somewhat tongue in cheek told S.F. Gate writer Leah Garchik back in mid June the move to Santa Fe was precipitated by "Armistead's retirement and my mid-life crisis."

Through his internationally renown Tales of the City series Mister Maupin is most closely associated with the Barbary Coast area of San Francisco, where many of his iconic, soap story-like novels are set. That would be in and around the North Beach nabe. However, property records show Mister Maupin has owned this modestly sized (if hardly inexpensive) house in the upscale Parnassus Heights 'hood near the Haight Ashbury since 1993 when he shelled out $615,000 for the cozy cottage set privately and high above the street behind a thick screen of trees.

Current listing information ol' Fiona scared up out of the interweb shows the three story, cedar shingled Craftsman/Edwardian-style house, was originally built in 1906 and is currently configured with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in 1,606 square feet.

A gated and gluttially punishing brick stairway at the street level, next to the single car garage tucked into the verdant hillside, zig-zags up the steep slope to a tree-shaded view deck and front door that opens directly into the somewhat compact living room finished with inlaid hardwood floors, textured Anaglypta wall coverings, built-in book cases—natch—and a through the tree tops city view.

The adjoining dining room opens though sliding glass doors to a small, lushly planted back yard with a variety of flag stone and brick terraces plus a built-in barbecue. The unfortunately squeezy kitchen isn't going to win any design awards from Your Mama but it is outfitted, as per listing information, with "Corian type counters, stone floor and stainless clad appliances" that include a radiant and convection oven, whatever that is. A slender breakfast counter nestled into one end of the kitchen has direct views of the backyard.

One of the two second floor bedrooms—listing information calls it the master bedroom—has a built-in seating bench, custom shelving for books and knick-knacks, dual fitted closets, and "expansive" views that sweep over the city from Marin to the East Bay. The second floor master bedroom unfortunately shares a compact hall facility (with marble counter top) with a second, smaller bedroom with garden outlook.

A second master suite tucked up into the eaves on the third floor has an origami-like ceiling, over-sized closet, attached private bathroom, sweeping views and direct access to a roof terrace with garden and Sutro Tower views.

Mistes Maupin and Turner plan to pack up their Labradoodle and road trip across the country and loop back to attend Burning Man in late August before resettling in Santa Fe.